The SBIR program has restarted.
Agencies are accepting proposals again — and competition will be fierce.
- 30-Day Cohort • For Deep-Tech Startups
Complete your
grant in 30 days.
SBIR agencies are issuing solicitations again after months of disruption. The window is open — but most founders who try to write a proposal without a structured process waste weeks and still submit something a reviewer can dismiss in minutes. This is the system that changes that.
$749
$499
With SBIR solicitations reopening, now is the time to prepare.
8
Chapters
36
Lessons
15 yrs
NSF Review
Built by a Ph.D. engineer
15 years of NSF proposal review experience
- The Program
A program designed around
your outcome.
You will build a complete, reviewer-ready SBIR proposal — not just an outline, not just notes. A real, submittable document, built section by section.
Lessons
Daily lessons with clear assignments — one manageable step at a time, designed to work alongside a full schedule.
Day-by-day
Frameworks
Templates for every major proposal section so you start from a proven structure instead of a blank page.
Templates
Guidance
Individual feedback on assignments and pre-recorded video instruction from a former federal grant reviewer.
Feedback
- Why Proposals Fail
Where most SBIR proposals break down — and how this program fixes it.
After reviewing hundreds of NSF, DOE, and NIH proposals and advising 175+ deep-tech startups, the failure patterns are predictable. The program walks you through every one of them, day by day, lesson by lesson.
The commercialization plan reads like an afterthought
The R&D plan lacks measurable milestones reviewers can score
The innovation is described technically but not compellingly
The budget does not reflect a credible development path
The team section does not inspire confidence
- Trust & Track Record
Join 150+ companies from some of the top startups in the U.S.
175+
Deep-tech startups advised
400+
Founders across 10 industries
15 yrs
Reviewing NSF, DOE, NIH proposals
- Curriculum
Eight focused modules.One
complete proposal.
8 chapters · 36 lessons · daily assignments · templates · individual feedback.
CH 01
Introduction to Grant Writing
Understand the landscape, the programs, and what separates funded proposals from the rest before you write a single word.
CH 02
Understanding the Grant Structure
Learn how proposals are structured and scored — so every section is optimized for the criteria that matter.
CH 03
Describing Your Innovation
Translate your technical work into a compelling innovation narrative. Includes literature and patent search guidance.
CH 04
Making a Commercialization Plan
Market research, target customers, competitive positioning, and a clear path to revenue.
CH 05
Creating Your R&D Plan
A technical development plan with specific milestones, testing protocols, and a defensible timeline
CH 06
Budgeting and Financial Planning
A realistic, defensible budget aligned to your actual development path and agency expectations.
CH 07
Finding Your Team
Structure your team — employees, contractors, consultants — to build reviewer confidence.
CH 08
Submitting Your Proposal
Review, edit, and finalize. Know what to check, what to cut, and how to submit with confidence.
- The Process
A focused, four-part delivery model.
01
Daily Email Lessons
One focused lesson per day — broken into manageable steps designed to work alongside a full schedule.
02
Video Walkthroughs
Short video lessons that walk you through each component of a winning SBIR proposal — from team planning to the commercialization narrative to R&D plan structure.
03
Book Chapters
Each lesson is reinforced by the corresponding chapter from The Startup's Guide to Winning Non-Dilutive Funding — giving you the deeper context, frameworks, and
04
Templates and Frameworks
Ready-to-use templates for major proposal sections — commercialization plan, R&D plan, budget justification, and more. Fill in your specifics and build a submission-ready proposal without starting from a blank page.
- What You Will Build
In 30 days, you finish with a complete, reviewer-ready proposal.
Not an outline. Not notes. A real, submittable SBIR proposal built section by section with structured guidance, templates, and feedback at every stage.
A clearly described innovation reviewers can evaluate
A commercialization plan with defined markets, customers, and revenue path
A credible R&D plan with technical milestones and a realistic timeline
A defensible budget aligned to your development plan
A team section that builds reviewer confidence
A proposal ready for submission or professional review
- Testimonials
Trusted by founders, scientists, and innovation leaders.
"Colleen provides valuable, constructive feedback. I would definitely use her again and would not hesitate to recommend her."
Shero
"A deep expert, always available to provide guidance, and committed to her client's success. I highly recommend Colleen."
Restore Technology
"Colleen was amazing to work with. She was very supportive of my ideas and business. Invaluable!"
StructureBot
"Her expertise makes her well-suited to provide realistic counsel and helpful guidance. I'll definitely be working with her again."
Fafnir
"Colleen was so great to work with. She just got it and was proactive about making suggestions."
Radiant Labs
"I had a great experience working with Colleen. Extremely knowledgeable and very easy to work with."
OpticSurg
- Your Instructor
A practitioner who has navigated the federal funding ecosystem firsthand.
Dr. Colleen Spiegel, Ph.D. — Founder of Semscio, engineer, grant reviewer, and startup advisor. 15 years reviewing NSF, DOE, and NIH SBIR proposals. Founder of Clean Fuel Cell Energy, a profitable deep-tech manufacturer. Author of technical books with McGraw-Hill and Elsevier.
“I built this program because most grant writing resources are written by people who have never sat on a review panel. This one was not.”
175+
Startups
15 yrs
Reviewing
Ph.D.
Engineering
- Enrollment Open
Everything you need to submit a fundable proposal in 30 days.
Learn the system used by a Ph.D. grant reviewer who has read thousands of SBIR proposals — and knows what makes reviewers stop reading.
- 8 chapters · 36 daily lessons
- Pre-recorded video instruction
- Self-paced — fits a full schedule
- Templates for every proposal section
- Individual feedback on assignments
- Reviewer-ready proposal by day 30
30-Day Grant Writing Challenge
$1,495
Founders rate: $499 $749 · Limited cohort
- 30-day reviewer-ready guarantee
Pick the path that fits where you are now.
- Start Free
Free Founder System
$0
11 free ebooks covering decisions, strategy, execution, and grant proposal structure.
- Self-paced
The Book
From $45
The Startup’s Guide to Winning Non-Dilutive Funding— print and digital.
- Most popular
30-Day Challenge
$499
Daily lessons, templates, video instruction, and individual feedback on your proposal.
- The Book Behind the Program
The Startup's Guide to Winning Non-Dilutive Funding
A structured guide to the entire SBIR process by Dr. Spiegel — the foundation the course is built on. Read it first if you are not yet ready to commit to the full program.
- Right Fit
Is this program right for you?
This program is for you if…
- You have a technical or R&D-driven business considering SBIR or STTR funding
- You want to write your own proposal with expert structure and guidance
- You are serious about submitting a competitive proposal, not just learning theory
- You want to understand what reviewers actually score
- You are ready to move now that SBIR solicitations are reopening
This program is not for you if…
- You want someone to write the proposal for you (see Advisory)
- You have not yet validated your business concept or target agency
- You are not willing to commit 30 days of focused effort
- FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is non-dilutive funding?
Funding that does not require you to give up equity. SBIR and STTR grants are the primary federal programs for small businesses with R&D-driven innovations.
What kind of businesses is this for?
High-tech startups and small businesses pursuing SBIR, STTR, or other federal R&D grants — particularly founders in technology, energy, healthcare, defense, and advanced manufacturing.
How long will the program take each day?
The program is designed to be completed in manageable daily segments alongside a full schedule. Most lessons and assignments take one to two hours per day.
Is there a book I can read before enrolling?
Yes. The course is built on The Startup’s Guide to Winning Non-Dilutive Funding by Dr. Spiegel. It is available on Amazon or as a digital download.
How long does it take to receive SBIR funding after submission?
Review cycles vary by agency but typically run three to nine months from submission to award decision.
Can I combine grant funding with other capital sources?
Yes. Many founders use SBIR alongside venture capital, angel investment, or bootstrapping. The program includes guidance on how grants fit into a broader capital strategy.
What if I need more than a course?
Advisory services are available for founders who want expert review of their completed proposal or direct guidance at a critical stage.
What if I am not sure I am ready to write a proposal yet?
Start with the Free Founder System — 11 free ebooks covering business selection, commercialization planning, R&D strategy, and what federal reviewers look for.
- Ready to Begin?
Ready to build a stronger funding, commercialization, or growth strategy?
SBIR agencies are issuing solicitations again. The founders who prepare now are the ones who submit competitive proposals when deadlines are announced.
- Free Resource
Not Ready to Enroll Today?
Free Founder System — 11 Free Ebooks. Instant Delivery. No Credit Card.
Start with the library that makes the rest of the journey easier.
If you are not ready to commit to the full program, start here. The Free Founder System is a library of 11 structured ebooks for technical founders who want to make clearer decisions — on which business to build, how to grow it, and whether to pursue funding.
Free, instant delivery. No credit card.
- What's inside
The library covers the full founder journey
01
- 3 books
Decision-Making
Evaluate your readiness, sequence your decisions, and choose the right path before committing time or capital.
02
- 3 books
Strategy
Commercialization planning, value proposition development, and aligning mission and goals — the foundations that make an SBIR proposal credible.
03
- 2 books
Execution
Turn plans into action and prepare your technology for manufacturing scale.
04
- 3 books
Risk & Funding
Manufacturing risk, pre-acquisition engineering, and winning grant proposals — including non-dilutive funding without leaving money on the table.
Trusted by 400+ founders across 10 industries.
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No hype. No fluff. Built for serious builders